Picker for fly shuttle looms



1951 G. M. HUGULEY PICKER FOR FLY SHUTTLE LOOMS Filed July 19, 1950 FIG. 2

Invenmr G. M. HUGULEY Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PICKER FOR FLY SHUTTLE LOOMS George M. Huguley, Clinton, S. 0.

Application June 19, 1950, Serial No. 168,973 10 Claims. (01. 139-159) This invention relates to improvements in pickers for fly shuttle looms, and more particularly to improve adjusting and clamping means for securing a loom picker in desired position of adjustment on the picker stick and for effecting ready replacement of a Worn picker.

As is well known, the flight of the shuttle employed in fly shuttle looms is checked in part by friction at several points in the shuttles flight, namely, between the front box plate and the binder, by the usual picker stick check mechanism, and finally by the picker itself, which is usually a reinforced rubber or leather stop mounted on the picker stick in line with the flight of the shuttle. Obviously, proper shuttle operation requires that the recessed cone opening of the picker must be exactly centered with the shuttle nose or point, so that all pickers on present looms have to be paralleled to the shuttle flight, which is an exceedingly diflicult and timeconsuming operation. Moreover, replacement of a worn picker on present looms usually requires removal of the picker head or frame from the picker stick, with the result that picker must be centered with the flight of the shuttle every time the picker is replaced.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a picker which, when once properly adjusted-on the picker stick, requires no further adjustment for the life of the picker stick, and

which moreover permits the picker to be replaced as may be necessary without any requirement of further adjustment to parallel or center its cone-shaped opening with the flight of the shuttle.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved picker securing means that can be applied to the picker stick without injury thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved picker clamping means which allows quick replacement of a worn picker, while at the same time insuring accurate alignment and centering of the replacement picker.

Still another object of the invention is to improve generally upon the construction and operation of pickers for fly shuttle looms.

. An ancillary object of the invention is the provision of picker clamping means which permits the use of a cheaper picker through the facilitated operation of mounting the picker insert when replacement thereof is required.

' A more detailed object of the invention is the provision of an improved and inexpensive picker for fly shuttle looms which may be readily secured in desired position of ,,vertical adjustment 2 on a picker stick, which simplifies the replacement of a picker insert while at the same time assuring that the new picker is properly centered with the shuttles flight, and which is thoroughly dependable in its operation.

The above and other objects and features of advantage of the improved loom picker according to the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved picker according to the invention, mounted on a conventional picker stick;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved picker, the view being taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are rear and front end views, respectively, of the picker illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like referwhat greater than the width (horizontal dimen-,

sion in Fig. 1) of said picker stick. To secure the frame I0 in desired position of vertical adjustment on the picker stick, the frame mounts within its opening a vertically-tapered securing,

. plate I4 which extends between the sides of the frame. Preferably, the plate is hardenedand its inner face is formed with a plurality of horizontally disposed serrations l6 providing sharpened edges adapted to bite into the rear vertical edge of the picker stick- The plate 14 is normally loose and movable relative to the frame ill, but pressure may be applied to it by a set screw l8 threaded through the rear vertical wall of the frame, the screw having a pointed inner end adapted when screwed down to bear against the plate with pressure suflicient to cause the edges of the serrations [B to .bite into the picker stick, thereby to firmly attach the frame thereto. A lock nut 20 threaded on to the outer end of the set screw functions to prevent turning of the set screw and thereby locks the framein the position to which it has been adjusted asaforesaid.

The frame I!) mounts forwardly (inwardly) thereof the picker or stop member 22, to be hereinafter sometimes referred, to as an insert by pivot bolts 30, 32 passing through the intermediate portion of said arms extending;

vertically between pairs of vertically spaced ears or wings 34, 34a which project outwardly from the sides of the frame. Preferably, the, bolts thread into the openings of the upper ears or wings, such resulting in the bolts being firmly secured to the frame against unintentional removal. However, the remaining. length. portions. of the bolts are untl'ireaded and pass. through on-size holes in. the clamping arms. sothat; the arms may turn freely on the axisof the bolts, but without any sideplay or lost motion.

- By reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the innerends of the clamping arms may be slightly offset outwardly. and they terminate in vertically disposed clamping jaws 26a, 2811 which project forwardly (inwardly) of the picker frame 10 by an amount not exceeding the horizontal depth dimension of the picker insert- 22. The adjacent clamping faces of saidjaws may be serrated orotherwise roughened so as to exert a firm grip on the side faces ofthe insert picker acted upon by said jaws.-

The outer (rear) endsjZBb, 28b of said clamping arms also extend substantially beyond the frame In and their outer terminals are providedwith drilled and tapped holes 36, 36a. disposed in transverse alignn'ient. Said holes receive a jaw actuating screw 38 which is threaded one halfwith righthand threads and the other half.withlefthandthreads, the screwbeing also provided at both ends with slots '40, 4.0a eachadapted to receive a sc'rew driverorsimia lar toolby which thescrew canbe turned from either-end, so.as tospreador contract the-outer ends: of the clamping arms aforesaid. Locking.

actuating screw 38.: are adapted toilock against theside-faces. of the clamping arm's, thus to prevent any slippage or unloosening of: the screw. followin turning-thereof. as aforesaid. By. reference to Figs. 1 andZ, the frame NJ is provided with aledge 4,4 overhanging; its. front face against which the insert picker 22 engages. Said ledge is preferably formed integral with the" frame, but it may be provided by a cross bar welded or otherwise securedagainstthe top edge of the frame. front wall, as illustrated. The purpose of the ledge it-is to-provide: an. abutment shoulder or stop for the upper. rear edge portion of the insert picker, which locates the latter vertically with respect to the frame and also preventsv any verticalishiftfiof: the in-' sert. picker. under thethrow of' the picker: arm.

While it is believed that the functioning of a picker as described and illustratedwill beclear to those skilled inthe art, such will'inevertheless be described. briefly. When" it is. desired to mount'thepickeron the picker-stick, the frame f ll, withsecuring 'plate 7 M loosetherein, is slipped over the-end of the picker. stick to -a desired vertical position thereof; whereupon the set screw is screwed home against said plate and applies pressure thereto, thus firmly attaching the frame to picker stick. Upon tightening of lock nut 20, the frame mounting operation is complete. At this point, it will be observed from Fig. 1 that while the securing plate M, set screw l8 and lock nut 20 are disposed to the same end of the frame as the operating ends 25b, 28b of. the clampingjawfi and are moreover contained between said-operating ends and the actuating screw 38, said first-named parts are vertically offset from the latter parts, as seen in Fig. 2, and hence may be freely manipulated "withoutiinterfer'nce from said operating ends and, actuating screw.

To mount the insert picker 22, if such was notalready clamped between the clamping jaws 26a, 28a, in a prior operation, the actuating screw 38 is turned in direction as to spread the jaws slightly, whereupon the insert picker 22 is placed flat against the front (inner) face of the frame, and so that its upper rear corner engages against the under surface of the ledge 44; The actuating screw 38 is now turned inreverse or jaw-closing direction, resulting in the jaw faces clampingly engaging against the side faces of the insert picker, thereby to secure the same in place. actuating screw 38 effects movement of the clamping jaws'in unison, it becomes self-evident that the central recess 26; of the insert picker is always centered on the picker stick and hence is always grOQ ed. with thefiight of the shuttle.

lfhus, it will be clear that once the frame I0 and its clamping means is,set on the picker stick as aforesaid, itssetting is permanent for...

the life of the, stick. no further adjustment thereof being necessary. Moreover, when an insert picker becomesworn itl may be. quickly replaced by the simple operations-of loosening and tightening the; adjusting screw 40, with assurance that the replacement insert will have; exactly. the-same position and centering as the prior insert. The aforesaid permanent setting of the picker frame on stick has; the additional advantage that it greatly increases the life of the picker .-stick, as compared to the prior pickers whose frequent readjustment; on stick caused, wear and damage, thus; shorteningthe useful life ofthepickerstick. V

As many. changes could. be; made in carrying; out the above constructions without departing: from the; scope; of ;theinvention, it, is intended that all matter contained in the above descripen r; QWm the; accom anyin drawin sha1l,be,interpretedas illustrative and not in. a limiting-sense;

Iclaim'z;

l-. In aloom picker, a picker, frame adapted to be; linpecrover the 1 end of" apicker. stick, means for securing; the; frame in, a; desired Position ofv vertical adjustmenton thepicker stick, a picker, apair of clamping jaws mounted on the frame forturning movement about Vertical axes and; being operative tQclampingly engage against the: sides of said picker,v andmeansv for actuating saidjawsimunison toward; and away fromone another; 1

. 2-. In aloom; picker,- a; picker frame adapted to be slippedover the end; of;a picker'stick-, means for securing the frame-in a, desired position. of vertical adjustment onthe picker stick, apicker, apair of" clamping arms pivotally connected intermediate their ends to saidvframafor turning By virtue of the fact that. the:

movement about vertical axes, said arms terminating at their one ends in vertically disposed jaws adapted to clampingly engage against the sides of the picker, and means operative on'the other ends of said arms for actuating said jaws in unison towards and away from one another.

3. In a loom picker, a picker frame adapted to be slipped over the end of a picker stick, means for securing the frame in a desired position of vertical adjustment on the picker stick, a picker, a pair of clamping arms pivotally connected intermediate their ends to said frame for turning movement about vertical axes, said arms terminating at their one ends in vertically disposed jaws adapted to clampingly engage against the sides of the picker, and an actuating screw operative between the other ends of said jaws for actuating said jaws in unison towards and away from one another.

4. In a loom picker, a picker frame adapted to be slipped over the end of a picker stick, means for securing the frame in a desired position of vertical adjustment on the picker stick, a picker, a pair of clamping arms pivotally connected intermediate their ends to said frame for turning movement about vertical axes, said arms terminating at their one ends in vertically disposed jaws adapted to clampingly engage against the sides of the picker, and an actuating screw extending between and threaded into the other ends of said arms, said screw having opposite threads in its end portions whereby rotation thereof effects movement of said jaws in unison toward and away from one another. I

5. In a loom picker, a rectangular picker frame adapted to be slipped over the end of the picker stick, means for securing the frame in a desired position of vertical adjustment on the picker stick, a picker, and picker clamping means comprising pairs of vertically spaced ears extending from the sides of said frame, a pair of clamping arms extending along the sides of the frames, each said arm extending through the space between the ears of a pair thereof, pivot means mounted in each pair of cars and passing through the clamping arm extending therebetween, the inner ends of said arms extending beyond the corresponding end of the frame and providing vertically disposed clamping jaws adapted to clampingly engage the sides of the picker, the outer ends of the clamping arms extending beyond the corresponding end of the frame, a jaw actuating screw extending between and threaded into said outer ends, said screw having opposite threads in its end portions whereby rotation of the screw effects movement of the jaws in unison toward and away from one another.

6. A loom picker as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame is provided with means for locating the picker vertically and against slippage with respect to the frame.

7. In a loom picker, a rectangular picker frame adapted to be slipped over the end of the picker stick, means for securing the frame in a desired position of vertical adjustment on the picker stick,

the frame being provided with a ledge extending across and overhanging an end wall of the frame, a picker disposed against said end wall with its top face engaging the under face of the ledge, and means mounted on said frame and positioned so as to be operative against the side faces of the picker for clamping the picker positioned as aforesaid.

8. In a loom picker, a rectangular picker frame adapted to be slipped over the end of the picker stick, means for securing the frame in a desired position of vertical adjustment on the picker stick, the frame being provided with a ledge extending across and overhanging an end wall of the frame, a picker positioned against said end wall with its top face engaging the under face of the ledge, and a pair of clamping arms pivotally mounted on said frame for turning movement about vertical axes, the inner ends of said arms providing clamping jaws extending beyond said end wall and being operative to clampingly engage against the side faces of said picker thereby to secure the picker in its aforesaid position.

9. In a loom picker, a rectangular frame having an opening for the picker stick, said opening having greater length than the width of the picker stick, a securing plate loosely disposed in and extending across one end of said opening, said plate having a plurality of biting edges on its face adjacent the picker stick, screw means carried by the corresponding end of said frame for applying pressure on said plate thereby to cause said biting edges to bite into the adjacent edge of the picker stick extending through said frame opening and to secure the frame in a desired position of vertical adjustment on said picker stick, a picker engaging against the outer face of the other end of the frame, clamping arms pivotally connected to the frame intermediate their ends for turning movement about vertical axes, said arms terminating at their one ends in vertical clamping jaws adapted to clampingly engage the picker, and screw means operative between the other ends of said arms for actuating said jaws in unison towards and away from one another.

10. A loom picker as set forth in claim 9, wherein the screw means for applying pressure to the securing plate and the screw means for actuating the clamping jaws are disposed to the same end of the picker frame but are offset vertically with respect to one another.

GEORGE M. HUGULEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 561,269 Moody June 2, 1896 1,575,598 Gagnon Mar. 2, 1926 2,045,724 Rea June 30, 1936 2,084,102 Merrick June 15, 1937 2,546,643 La Rocque Mar. 27, 1951 

